No one expects them to make a leap from where they are now to winning the title in 2012 and if they can do it, then good for them but perhaps prudence is a better strategy and patient building upon a solid design and solid driver lineup will reap bigger rewards over the next two years in which they can build.

Will there be life after Lotus Renault GP for Heidfeld? That question remains to be seen but many have suggested that perhaps the German series DTM or even the Le Mans series could be an intriguing racing series for a man who drives smoothly and scores points.